Thunder Seven (triumphmusic.com)

There’re 3 Triumph studio albums that I’ve worn out in every media that it’s ever been released and that is Allied Forces , Never Surrender and Thunder Seven . Thunder Seven has to be my favourite, probably because that’s when I got into the band for the first time. Seeing Triumph at good ol’ Maple Leaf Gardens back in 1984 was memorable, to say the least. And 80 concerts later, Triumph (the Thunder Seven tour in particular) is still one of my all time favourites. If the powers to be are listening, PLEASE release a show from this tour, HOPEFULLY from Toronto.

OK, here we go…Thunder Seven in review…

1. Spellbound – Man, oh man! In the immortal words of Ric Ocasek, that was ”just what I needed”! Nothin’ like good ol’ rock n” roll riffery, a pounding drum that even Excedrin couldn’t remove, and a backup thundering bass line to complete the storm. And let’s not forget the non-apologetic, non-politically correct beautifully written lyrics about every straight man’s desire – a woman. Freakin’ love that song!

2. Rock Out, Roll On – True to Triumph’s motivational and inspirational lyrics, these are very close to the ”Follow Your Heart” theme, and I’ve always wondered why Triumph never marketed ”Rockout Roll-On For Men. ehh…couldawouldashoulda… Another gem of a song…

”..ghosts of Woodstock still haunt the next of kin…”

..classic…

3. Cool Down – Can you say Zeppelin, boys and girls? And I thought KISS’ ”Keep Me Comin” sounded Zeppelin! Great track, perhaps a tribute to the fallen hero Bonzo…

4. Follow Your Heart – Ah yes, here we are. The masterpiece. This song has pulled me through and also made me cry, ain’t ashamed to admit. Beautiful lyrics, powerful rock, and great vocals. The perfect song, and quite frankly, one of the best written, ever in history.

5. Time Goes By – A reminder of the ever ticking clock…yet still a great song!

6. Midsummer’s Daydream – Let’s see Kirk Hammett do that! I’ve always said that Rik could kick Kirk’s metallibutt in any department. This is proof. The best acoustic instrumental since EVH’s ”Spanish Fly’.’

7. Time Canon – This was WAY too cool to see live in ’84 with lasers. On album, it’s kinda nice but live it became multi-dimensional.

8. Killing Time – This one’s a sad reminder of the ticking clock, and although it’s a very well-manufactured song in every dept and in general, you can’t help but look in the mirror and ask ”where am I killing time in my life.” OK, maybe it was just me, but it was very effective.

“…the time we waste on hate, full of anger and jealousy, the times you were so cruel and the times you turned on me…”

With lyrics like that, it’s no wonder Triumph was one of the all time best lyricists.

9. Stranger in A Strange Land – ”When Will The Light Shine Through?”…”nuff said. Great Rik track.

10. Little Boy Blues – This coulda been called ”Suitcase Blues Pt 2.” It had the classic jazzy vibe goin’, and you can’t help your mind wandering off to a hotel lobby around 4am, in some American city. Girls and boys of the new generation, now THIS is what you call EMO. ‘Cause if this don’t get you all emotional, you’ve been musically deprived.